Billericay Town 1, Margate 2 (From Echo)

Billericay Town 1, Margate 2

11:10am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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THIS New Lodge relegation clash only served to emphasise that, despite winning their two previous games, Brian Statham’s Billericay are far from safe from the drop.

And, although going into this match rock bottom, Margate, now managed by ex-Great Wakering Rovers’ boss Iain O’Connell, still have chances of escaping going down.

Since taking over at the Kent club where he enjoyed a six-year playing career, ex-Southend United first teamer O’Connell has brought in a number of astute new signings.

And, with this latest encounter being played just a few miles from his Southend home, jubilant O’Connell admitted that his side had special extra backing for their second successive win.

He said: “My whole family were here — and I'm glad we didn’t let them and the rest of our fans who made the trip down.”

Margate looked in real trouble after only 12 minutes when they were reduced to 10 men when John Keister was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge on Reece Prestedge.

But the visitors knuckled down and toothless Billericay only really seriously troubled visiting keeper Jamie Turner once in the remainder of the game.

“I thought we showed fantastic spirit after looking in real trouble when we lost a player so early,” O’Connell said. “To limit Billericay to just one real chance was superb on our part and to say that I was delighted when we grabbed an injury-time winner would be an understatement.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but this win and our victory in our previous game has given us a chance.”

As an attacking force Billericay had looked brilliant a week previously in a 4-1 win at leaders Dartford. But here they could rarely trouble the visiting defence with ex-Crystal Palace man Simon Thomas, who apparently had looked unplayable at the top dogs last week, giving a disappointing performance here.

But he was not alone. Thomas might have done better with a 33rd-minute effort in which the ball seemed to get stuck between his legs, but generally the first-half was starved of worthwhile attacking action at either end.

That was until the 44th minute when Town midfielder Micky Shinn sent a deep peach of a ball through to Danny Green, who connected with a great volley which forced Turner to turn the ball over Just three minutes into the second-half Town defender Chris Wild brought down James Pinnock, a man Statham tried to sign for Billericay recently from previous club Maidstone, in the box and ex-Concord Rangers’ midfielder Nick Barnes fired home the spot-kick.

Barnes must love playing at New Lodge as he was on-target at the venue a few weeks ago in a 1-1 draw earned by previous club Maidstone United.

Before the penalty, Thomas had spurned another half-chance for the hosts, but at least he was on target with a 67th-minute effort from the spot when Margate were, rather harshly in my opinion, penalised for handball.

Green, now operating with considerable effect down the left, had often looked Town’s best bet of creating a goal and his cross might have achieved that result if Thomas had not again shot off-target 15 minutes from time.

So a point apiece looked to be the final result, but Margate launched one last offensive and, after one of the few flowing moves of an afternoon which never reached any great footballing heights, grabbed the winner in the fourth and final minute of injury-time, new signing Leroy Huggins netting from close range.

Town are still a place above the drop zone and lead Margate by five points.

But they now face a tricky run of three successive away games against opposition still harbouring play-off hopes.

If they are to complete a great escape they must hope that goal star Billy Bricknell, who had an injection on Friday in an effort to hasten his return from a ligament injury, is back sooner rather than later.

On this display Billericay badly need his scoring talents.

Town are next in action tomorrow when they go to Ruislip Manor to meet Wealdstone.